The Most Disliked Episode of TNG, 2023 Edition - Finals...

[Qonundrum]

"Bough" is another interesting and original season story. It's better than "Farce Force of Nature" despite both revolving around ecological issues. Despite the small-world nature of "Bough", it's still more expansive with multiple ideas being jostled about rather than just the one - and is still more effective in its presentation, despite it all*. All despite having that peachy keen "After Sk00l Special" feel, but TNG was finding itself, as well as having different episodes cater to different audiences (it's hard enough to appeal to a dozen demographics in the same episode, so doing it this way helps... until you reach "Justice" where "TV-Y" became "TV-M" without any warning. Oops. But by season 7, all the script effort went to DS9 and what's left feels like coasting... to some form of target audience for sure... and only at warp 0.00049999975 to play it really safe. Plus, "Bough" feels influenced by some designs and dialogue accorded the main ship computer in "Blake's 7" for "The Custodian", but without any massive overt pointing or callouts. "I'm subtle now, subtle is cool." Which is also ironic given some of the material covered in this episode being as unsubtle as another tv show's episode called "Orphan 55". But I digress, odd but true... Anyhoo, "Bough" also is more fun in terms of counting the number of recycled sets; early TNG still look glorious, but what they did on a relatively small budget still impresses considerably.

That said, "Force" does have an interesting allegory, even if it's slowly drawn out as a mystery but with half as compelling as it needed to be... worse, the show never followed through on any other level than "You're allowed to break the speed limit this time" for the remaining dozen or so episodes, so why did they bother...? All that said, I did like TNG's 1701-D refit design from the finale that addressed the issue via adding another nacelle, which - in tandem with the other nacelles - created the field more gently and then the nacelles tinkled a copious amount of "plot solution" into the fabric of space, so all is okey-dokey again. Did I just digress upon a digression, again? Oops...


"When The Bough Breaks" - 1
"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 1
"Cost Of Living" - 1
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0



* even calculus.

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(some of the viewer responses to the clip are quite interesting, BTW, IMHO, EIEIO...)

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll go with Firstborn this time.

The addition of Alexnder to the crew was good in concept, but poor in execution, which is why I rate S5 slightly below S6. Slightly. It's all much of a muchness.

He did much better in episodes where he was allowed to act like a kid, and not have any soap opera drama hanging over him. I really liked seeing him and Worf on the Klingon planet immersing Alexander in his heritage.

Jame Sloyan playing older Alexander was a masterstroke, as I sympathised with his feeling tortured because he felt responsible for Worf's death in the future, being as he never learned to fight properly.

However, Worf realising that Alexander needs to learn how to find his own path in life was a nice endpoint for the character.

"When The Bough Breaks" - 1
"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 1
"Cost Of Living" - 1
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[Oddish]

I've just read the quotes from "Cost of Living" on Memory Alpha and there's no way I'm not voting for it again now. Lwaxana and Alexander make a wonderful team!

You're right. Based on those quotes alone, I need to give that one another look.

Bough" is another interesting and original season story. It's better than "Farce Force of Nature" despite both revolving around ecological issues. Despite the small-world nature of "Bough", it's still more expansive with multiple ideas being jostled about rather than just the one - and is still more effective in its presentation, despite it all*. All despite having that peachy keen "After Sk00l Special" feel, but TNG was finding itself, as well as having different episodes cater to different audiences (it's hard enough to appeal to a dozen demographics in the same episode, so doing it this way helps... until you reach "Justice" where "TV-Y" became "TV-M" without any warning. Oops.

"Bough" is really spoiled by one thing: the way they decided to end it. If they had simply had it so that the Aldeans' sterility was irreversible, as opposed to the smarmy "win-win" resolution we got, it would have been a far better episode.

However, Worf realising that Alexander needs to learn how to find his own path in life was a nice endpoint for the character.

It would have been, yes.
Unfortunately... "Sons and Daughters".

 

[Sakonna]

"Cost Of Living" That scene where Lwaxana talks about being alone, goddamn! What an incredible performance.

"When The Bough Breaks" - 1
"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 1
"Cost Of Living" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[Seven of Five]

Sons and Daughters is a very confusing episode @Oddish. I get that the DS9 writers wanted to bring Alexander back with Worf on the show, but it would have made sense to have him be a member of Starfleet, rather than some bag Klingon comedy routine. Especially as Worf was happy with the way Alexander was leading his life by the time TNG ended.

Strangely bad character motive there from DS9.

Well, that and Dukat with the Pah-Wraiths. They are similarly bad.

 

[Oddish]

I get that the DS9 writers wanted to bring Alexander back with Worf on the show, but it would have made sense to have him be a member of Starfleet, rather than some bag Klingon comedy routine. Especially as Worf was happy with the way Alexander was leading his life by the time TNG ended.

Fully agreed. I don't even know how Alexander got in... the Klingon military would certainly require a degree of combat proficiency for new recruits.

Strangely bad character motive there from DS9.

Well, that and Dukat with the Pah-Wraiths. They are similarly bad.

Include the complete destruction of the entire Ferengi culture, and you've got DS9's worst missteps right there.

 

[Brennyren]

"When the Bough Breaks," same as before.

"When The Bough Breaks" - 2
"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 1
"Cost Of Living" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[BlueStuff]

Hmmm... I suppose I'll go with When the Bough Breaks. At first glance it's one of those annoying kid episodes, but when you compare it to And the Children Shall Lead you realise it could've been much, much worse.

"When The Bough Breaks" - 3
"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 1
"Cost Of Living" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[CitadelZombies]

I'll go for "When The Bough Breaks". There's some pretty decent child acting here, and it's a decent plot where Wes isn't saving the ship.

Reset.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 0
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 0
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0

 

[Farscape One]

My vote is again for "Birthright, Part II".

Same reasons as before.


"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 0
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0

 

[Sakonna]

"Cost Of Living" again!

Another heroic bit of acting from Majel in this one is when she drinks the... sausage juice? The weird replicator malfunction beverage. Looked vile!

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 1
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0

 

[Oddish]

I'll go for "When The Bough Breaks". There's some pretty decent child acting here, and it's a decent plot where Wes isn't saving the ship.

Agreed. Most of it was a fair to middling episode, and it was one of the few that really used Wesley well. And I think the dismal ending was sort of hearkening back to the TOS trope of Kirk forcibly transforming societies to adhere to Federation norms. Call it growing pains, a new Trek finding its way out of the shadow of the old. Plus, those twins who played Alexandra were super cute.

After a rewatch of "Cost of Living", I am transferring my support to it. It has its weaknesses, but Lwaxana is actually pretty good in it. And a lot of great lines and exchanges. And as I said, my previous choice was no masterpiece.

The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll go with Firstborn again, for the same reasons.


The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[CitadelZombies]

Another vote for "Firstborn" it's a rather bland episode, but I'll give it points for its time travel aspect and for the Quark cameo.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 2

 

[Cyfa]

That scene where Lwaxana talks about being alone, goddamn! What an incredible performance.

~ Absolutely! That was almost my reason for voting last time, but I found all the quotes from MA too hilarious not use then. So, a third vote for "Cost of Living" from me.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Cost Of Living" - 3
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 2

 

[Brennyren]

So, a third vote for "Cost of Living" from me.

I'll make it four, and for the same reason. And also because I think I actually cheered when Lwaxana showed up at her wedding in -- ah -- her own culture's dress code. Way to get your mojo back, lady!

That ends the round.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 0
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0

 

[Farscape One]

Voting for "Birthright, Part II".

Same reasons as all the previous times.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 0

 

[Sakonna]

So glad "Cost Of Living" was saved! It has obvious problems, but there's a lot about it I love.

I'll go "Firstborn" next, basically for the appearances of Quark, Lursa, and B'Etor.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 0
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[Qonundrum]

All of these are as dreadful as having a 90-degree day on the first of October in the northern states region.

I'm saving "The Masterpiece Society" solely for the Geordi scene that rises above all the contrived crud that transpires in the episode, also noting that said episode even has one of Picard's most out-of-character and disgusting speeches ever due to plot magic getting them there.


"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 1
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1

 

[Oddish]

Happy to see "Cost" saved, returning my vote to "Masterpiece Society". It's meh, the others are basically blecchhh.

"The Outrageous Okona" - 0
"The Price" - 0
"Transfigurations" - 0
"The Host" - 0
"Galaxy's Child" - 0
"The Masterpiece Society" - 2
"Aquiel" - 0
"Birthright, Part II" - 1
"Bloodlines" - 0
"Firstborn" - 1